No impact of Uddhav-Ambedkar alliance on BJP, Shinde camp, says Union minister Rane

Union minister Narayan Rane on Monday said the newly minted alliance between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Dalit leader's Prakash Ambedkar's outfit VBA in Maharashtra will not have any political impact on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling Eknath Shinde faction.

Earlier in the day, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and Ambedkar's Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) announced an alliance ahead of civic polls in several cities in Maharashtra, including Mumbai, a move that coincided with the birth anniversary of Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray. However, BJP leader Rane sought to downplay the political significance of the alliance. Speaking to reporters here, he said, "Their alliance would not make any political dent to the ruling coalition in the state (BJP and Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena). I do not understand, why people (in the media) are giving so much importance to Ambedkar and Uddhav Thackeray...they do not have any political backing." "They both lack political stature to criticise Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Tell me, how many people are behind them?" asked the Rajya Sabha member and former chief minister. Rane maintained Uddhav Thackeray has lost support of a majority of his MLAs post rebellion by a section of legislators in June last year. "Thackeray once had support of 56 Sena MLAs, now there are not even 12 (MLAs with him). What is Prakash Ambedkar's contribution in the upliftment of Scheduled Caste people in the state? Can he give me some number, because I can tell you how many people I have helped," said the BJP leader. "Both the leaders are losing ground and are at the end of their political career," Rane claimed.